Thieves in France Hit a Jackpot They Can't Collect, But Their Victim Has a Solution

Most people will never have the luck to win a big payout through the lottery. But beating the odds only to face criminal charges if you try to claim your winnings? That sounds like something conjured up after a wish made through a monkey's paw.

It is, however, exactly what happened to some French thieves. Mix in the theft victim being willing to withdraw charges and share the jackpot with the thieves and you've entered "stranger-than-fiction" territory.

As this story unfolds in France, it raises questions about the rights of victims and options after a theft. What would your rights be in this scenario? Would withdrawing the charges against the people who robbed you to share in their ill-gotten gains even be legal? Let's scratch below the surface of these intriguing questions.

Quel Dommage

A person identified in documents as Jean-David E. filed a police report in February of 2025. His car was broken into in the city of Toulouse, France, and the backpack stolen contained, among other items, his wallet and credit cards.

When Jean-David E. called his credit card company to report the theft and block his cards, he was informed that one had already been used in a local shop. When he went to the shop to investigate, the owner said two men who appeared to be homeless bought scratch-off lottery tickets with one of the cards.

When one of the tickets revealed a prize of 500,000 euros (about $523,000 U.S.), the owner said the men started celebrating and left the shop without trying to cash the ticket in. Through his attorney and French media, Jean-David E. made an offer to the lucky robbers - he'd withdraw the theft charges in exchange for a split of the lottery winnings and the return of his wallet.

Whether or not prosecutors in France would allow such an arrangement remains to be seen. The decision to exonerate a criminal isn't always up to the victim.

Yoink!

While the laws may differ in France, in the United States it's illegal to profit off a criminal enterprise. Property can be seized through civil asset forfeiture if it's used in the commission of a crime or obtained through criminal means. Using a stolen credit card to buy a lottery ticket would almost certainly fall under a civil forfeiture statute, although they vary by state.

In the U.S., the victim of a crime does not control whether or not charges are filed. Prosecutors file criminal charges if they feel the evidence supports it, the offender is a danger to the victim or others, and if the severity of the crime demands it.

This happens with disturbing regularity in domestic violence cases, where fear and manipulation cause many victims to attempt to recant.

Empowering Victims

The damage done by a theft often extends far beyond the financial loss. Steps have been taken to protect the rights of crime victims and offer assistance through the difficult aftermath. On a federal level, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) offers resources for victims of mass violence, contacts for state victim assistance programs, and a way to file civil rights complaints.

The types of assistance available in states can vary, but most provide the following basic rights for crime victims:

• A reasonable amount of protection from the accused offender
• Notification of all court proceedings
• Participation in court proceedings related to the offense
• Access to information about the conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, and release of the offender
• Having input at sentencing in the form of a victim impact statement

For example, all states are required to track and share information about sex offenders through the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). States that don't do so risk losing 10% of their federal justice funds allotment.

C'est La Vie or Guilty Plea?

The case in France is likely to find passionate advocates for all possible solutions. Whether or not Jean-Davis E. is entitled to the winnings or will ever see it is a tricky legal question for French courts.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we recommend you don't steal wallets. If you do, and you buy a winning lottery ticket, chances are you won't ever see a dime. And even if you did, there's not much you could do with your money from jail.

Related Resources

• Lottery Trusts (FindLaw's Trust Laws)
• What You Can Do if You're a Victim of Crime (FindLaw's Litigation and Disputes)
• Crime Prevention and Victim Resources (FindLaw's Criminal Legal Help)